BEAUTY
Talc-Free Powder Should Be A Must-Have In Your Makeup Arsenal. Here's Why
By MASIE O'TOOLE
Gentle On Skin
If you have sensitive skin, products that include talc could cause irritation, rashes, and even hives. Talc-free alternatives aren't as acceptable and are usually made of skin-safe materials like cornstarch or arrowroot powder, but something that's “natural” doesn't mean it won't irritate your skin.
Less Cancer Risk
People are turning their backs on products with talc because of its association with asbestos, its proven cause of mesothelioma, and its increased cancer risk. The FDA is investigating the affects of talc but still doesn’t require brands to test products for asbestos.
Organic Materials
One bonus of talc alternatives is that they're typically plant-derived, with options that include oat flour, rice starch, arrowroot starch, tapioca starch, and cornstarch. In makeup, common replacements are silica, zinc oxide, and mica because they appear smoother on the skin.
Alternatives Are Cheaper
Talc-based powder is usually cheap, but alternatives give you more bang for your buck because they are multi-purpose, as they can also be used in cooking. On the other hand, cosmetics can be slightly more expensive because there aren’t too many talc-free options on the market.
Alternatives Are Regulated
The FDA takes a closer look at talc alternatives than talc itself, so you can be sure that they’re the safer bet, especially food-safe ones. So far, none of the common talc alternatives have been marked as unsafe for their intended use or faced any major lawsuits saying they caused cancer.